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Author Topic: New to the board, getting new equipment  (Read 3128 times)

Zzonkmiles

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New to the board, getting new equipment
« on: January 09, 2007, 03:14:18 PM »
Hi everyone.  I'm yet another bowling-loving newbie to the boards.  I read about how so many of you are getting 700- and 800-series and I am truly envious.  I am best described as an advanced beginner, I suppose.  My highest series ever is a 556, and I've only bowled a 500-series a handful of times.  My highest score ever is a 224, but my average is about a 140.  400-something series are the most common for me.

Anyways, my wife is going to buy new bowling balls for my birthday.  I did some research and I decided to get a Storm Spit Fire and a Columbia Blue Dot (for spares).  I currently use a 14-pound ball by Columbia known as a "Lane Catcher EX."  (I haven't seen any reviews or any other information about this ball on this site or anywhere else.  Has anyone ever heard of this ball before?)

The reason why I'm writing is to ask if these two balls (the Blue Dot and Spit Fire) are a decent pair of balls that should get me through most situations.  I have very little technical knowledge, so I don't know about pin placement, counting boards and revs, hole positioning, etc.  I just want a good all-around strike ball for medium oil with a straight spare ball.  I'm more of a straight bowler with a light hook than a cranker because I haven't quite yet figured out how to make the ball hook as much as it potentially can.

Thanks for reading.  Hope I can contribute to some of the discussions here!

 

Noy

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2007, 11:17:51 PM »
Sounds good to me, although I've always recommended a mild reactive ball so that you know its YOU hooking the ball and not the ball itself.  But the spit fire seems pretty mild.

Welcome to the boards and feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
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Bowling Since March 2006 - "Get coaching, don't worry about it"...blah blah balh...Just answer the questions please

Mean Machine > Power Machine > Equation > Heat Blast

Laybzz74

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2007, 11:19:19 PM »
WELCOME !!!
Here's a start for you ... it's a compilation of some great info that will tell you a lot; save it and use it as a reference as you grow as a bowler.

http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5

Also, here:

http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/roncarchive.htm

Good luck and again, welcome !!!

BTW, put something about yourself in you profile; check out a few profiles of other BR "roomies" as a reference.
--------------------
**** Official "L/LM ball junkie" ****
Man, I LOVE this game; and I love it even more now that I'm using LEGENDS/LaneMasters equipment !!!
 "Master the Lanes with Legendary hitting power" !!!

Robb in O'Fallon, IL 62269 (near Scott AFB)
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM (Email and PayPal addy)

Edited on 1/10/2007 7:20 AM
**** Official "L/LM" ball "junkie" ****

http://www.lanemastersbowling.com
 
 "Master the Lanes with Legendary hitting power" !!!

Robb in O Fallon, IL 62269 (near Scott AFB)
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM (Email addy)

mrbowlingnut

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2007, 11:24:47 PM »
Here is a short list of good medium oil range balls for you to consider:

Spitfire is decent choice but sometimes gets skid/flippy

Brunswick Vapor Zone you cannot go wrong with this ball

Rotogrip Horizon Solid again better all around ball than spitfire

Legends Black pearl not cheap but is a very very good ball

Track Power machine balls kicks hard off the dry but very forgiving

Columbia Action Attack nice overall type of ball can get angular

Drilling advice is best handled by someone actually watching you until you know your pap,ball speed and rev rate. Better to have a real pro shop driller watch you first good luck and btw the blue dot is a good choice or a target zone almost the same thing so dont worry about that.


shelley

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2007, 11:27:53 PM »
The Spit Fire should do exactly what you want.  Controllable on medium oil, strong enough that you should be able to move a half-dozen boards over the course of the night without sacrificing angle or carry.  Versatile enough that you can sand it down if you need to or keep it polished and be able to handle maybe the heavier side of medium if you play pretty straight.

Plastic is plastic, so if you like the Blue Dot, great.  Only comes in silver, and the old business about "it's harder than other plastic balls so it goes straighter" is bunk, so if there is another plastic ball you like the looks of better, go for it.

SH

JohnP

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2007, 10:22:02 AM »
Mazerunner -- I envy you!!  The most enjoyable period of my bowling was when I was learning and improving every day.  All the firsts  --  first 200, 225, 240, etc; first 500, 550, 600, etc; first made split, first clean game, first average over 150, 160, etc, etc.  The excitement of going to practice and maybe improving.  And not being too aggravated about missing a spare or leaving a split.  Enjoy  --  JohnP

Zzonkmiles

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2007, 10:13:52 PM »
Laybzz74:

Thank you SO much for those links.  I printed out those webpages and am still reading through the material now.  This stuff is better than Shakespeare!

Bowlingnut:

Thanks for the ball recommendations.  I did some research on the Vapor Zone you recommended and it seems to be a bit more versatile and more forgiving for about the same price.  I'm going to order the balls today, so I'm going to get the Columbia Blue Dot for spares and the Brunswick Vapor Zone to use as my primary ball.  If this ball doesn't work, I'll be knocking on your door!

Shelley:

Glad you agree with the Blue Dot recommendation.  Silver is fine with me.  I actually like the drab colors (black, gray, silver) more than the flashy ones (red, orange, yellow).  I was going to buy a WHITE Dot at first, but it seemed that the BLUE Dot was of a higher quality.  I anticipate using this Blue Dot for a very long time for spares.

Noy:  Would you consider the Vapor Zone to be a "mild reactive" ball?  Having a ball that does something because I make it do it sounds better for me than having the ball do all the work at this point because I have so many bad habits.

JohnP:  I agree with you.  I guess the only good thing about being a beginner is being able to know that you are progressing.  I used to average about 110-120 until I started bowling much more regularly and bought my own equipment last spring.  My average has gone up about 25 pins since then.  170 and 180 games used to be an ultra-rarity, but now they are creeping up a little more often.  There are a lot of guys at the local house who commonly bowl 220 games and whatnot.  I cannot believe it when they tell me they have 200 averages.  I've only broken 200 four times and wonder if I'll ever be able to say the same thing someday.

Thank you so much for your replies everyone.  I am in total awe of your technical knowledge.  I was reading some of the posts on this site to my wife last night and both of us just scratched our heads.  Someday I'll be able to speak the lingo too!

Anyways, I hope this Vapor Zone and Blue Dot work!  I won't be able to use them until April, however.  (I live in Japan now and am packing up to go back to the US in two months.  So it makes no sense to have those new balls sent here.)  I'll keep checking the site anyway and will let you know how things go.  In the meantime, I'll keep using my Lane Catcher EX.  (Does anyone know anything about this ball?  It's from Columbia, but I can't find any information about it here or on any other bowling site.)

Laybzz74

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Re: New to the board, getting new equipment
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2007, 06:14:51 AM »
"Maze"
  U R welcome; welcome to BR, and keep "us" posted on your progress ... BOWL WELL !!!
--------------------
**** Official "L/LM ball junkie" ****
Man, I LOVE this game; and I love it even more now that I'm using LEGENDS/LaneMasters equipment !!!
 "Master the Lanes with Legendary hitting power" !!!

Robb in O'Fallon, IL 62269 (near Scott AFB)
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM (Email and PayPal addy)
**** Official "L/LM" ball "junkie" ****

http://www.lanemastersbowling.com
 
 "Master the Lanes with Legendary hitting power" !!!

Robb in O Fallon, IL 62269 (near Scott AFB)
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM (Email addy)